Improvement in book-supports



H. B. SMITH.

BOOK SUPPORTS.

No.181,73 7. I Patented Aug. 29,1876.

Atiorney.

ETER En UNITEn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIRAMJB. SMITH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR To OSBORN CON AD, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOK-SUPPORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [8 1,737, dated August 29, 1,876; application filed February 28, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, HIRAM B. SMITH, of the city and county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Book-Supports or Reading-Desks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear and exact description of thenature thereof, sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which v Figure 1 is a side view of the device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom view thereof. Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion thereof in a folded state; and Fig. 5 is a view of the bottom and remaining portions in a folded state.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

My invention consists of a two-faced re volving book-support. It also consists of means for tilting the support so that it may be set at angles of different pitch. It also consists of spring-arms for holding the book or article placed on the support, and adapted to be folded with the other parts of the support. It further consists in so constructing the support that it may be compactly folded and conveniently transported.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a pedestal, and B the base thereof. 0 represents a stand, which consists of the two inclined face-pieces, gt (1., whose upper ends are jointed to the top*bar D, whose under side has an opening or socket for the reception of the upper end of the pedestal A, so that the stand 0 may rotate on said pedestal.

To the lower ends of the faces a there are hinged ledges E, and to the latter there are jointed arms F, consisting of flat pieces of spring metal, which are pivoted at one end to the ledges, and at their other ends are formed with lips G G, which, when in POT-ltion, extend vertically and above the ledges,

- so as to permit the book to be passed thereunder, and held with sufficient pressure, and the arms are adjustable to various widths and different thicknesses of books.

The lower ends of the faces a are held extended by means of a transverse piece, H, hinged to said ends, and formed in parts hinged to each other. A slot, J, extends transversely in the piece H, and through the same passes the pedestal A, on which is fit- -ted a washer, K, pressing against the upper side of the piece H, and above the washer K is a pin, L, which projects through the pedestal, so as to prevent the folding of the piece H.

M represents a bar pivoted at one end to the piece H, and formed with a longitudinal slot, N, through which passes the pedestal A. The other end of the bar is formed with a stud, P, adapted to drop into openings 1) b, formed in the under side of the piece H.

It will be seen that when the slots J and N are at a right angle to each other, the pedestal A occupies the central position of-the stand 0, and the latter may be rotated so as to present either face a. to the reader. When, however, it is desired to tilt the stand, so that the face of one side will approximate a perpendicular, or the other side approximate a horizontal, position, the bar M will be shifted or moved on its axis to one of the openings b aside of the central one thereof, so that the pedestal will set eccentric to the stand 0, and thus the tilting of the latter is accomplished.

When it is required to fold the parts, the spring-arms F are moved so that the lips Gr extend under the ledges E, and the ledges E will fold on the faces a. Then remove the pin L, withdraw the pedestal A, remove the bar M, and the piece H may be folded between the face-pieces c a, the parts being thereby compactly folded.

The pedestal maybe unscrewed-from the base, and thus the entire support may be bundled in small compass,

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The two-faced revolving book-support, consisting of the inclined face-pieces a, top -bar D, and bottom piece H, in combination with the pedestal A and base B, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The shifting-bar M, with the pedestal A ing piece H, and folding ledges E, combined passed through it, for tilting the stand 0, suband operating substantially as and for the stantially as and for the purpose set forth. purpose set forth.

3. The spring-arms F G, consisting of flat pieces pivoted to the hinged ledges E, and SMITH folding thereunder substantially as and for Witnesses: the purpose set forth. JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM,

4. The folding face-pieces a, top bar D, fold- J. W. HAMPTON, Jr. 

